ET quick fix to MG Road

BENGALURU: For Bengalureans, MG Road has always been the quintessential high street thanks to its South Parade legacy. While it got a Metro station five years ago, basic needs for pedestrians to take a safe and easy walk are still missing. This, many agree, has affected MG Road's popularity

Provide Longer Time for Pedestrian Crossing

STEPS: Use the five pedestrian crossings - Queen's Statue, Anil Kumble Circle, Brigade Road junction, Dickenson Road junction and Trinity Circle - as traffic calming areas where motor vehicles should stop for a longer time. A diagonal crossing, particularly at the Brigade Road-MG Road junction and at Queen's Statue could be considered by stopping traffic in all directions for pedestrian movement. The Metro has to be more inclusive with its two foot over-bridges - at MG Road Station and Trinity Circle Station - by modifying them to allow public access. Many of these changes would cost about a lakh and can be done within a week.

Create a Zebra Crossing Near the Metro Station.

STEPS: Redesign footpaths to make them uniform and disabled-friendly.

The Association is ready to provide wheelchairs. Urgent need to have a clearly defined zebra crossing in the middle for pedestrians to cross over from the Metro side to the shopping side without having to go all the way to Brigade Road junction Road width should not be reduced. So TenderSURE may not fit the bill. Relaying footpaths from Anil Kumble Circle to Brigade Road junction may cost about 18-20 lakh. It can be carried out within ten days.